Temporary outlet box closure



May 2, 1950 H. H. GEIST TEMPORARY OUTLET BOX CLOSURE 2 Sheets-Sheet} Filed Ma 20, 1949 H IINVENTOR: HARRY H. GEIST 28y FIG.6

Patented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TEMPORARY OUTLET BOX CLOSURE Harry H. Gcist, Frankfort, Ill.

Application May 20, 1949, Serial No. 94,462

10 Claims. (Cl. 220-34) This invention relates to temporary closures for electrical outlet boxes, and particularly to such devices which include an outwardly or forwardly projecting plaster ring adapted to surround the outlet box opening and keep the box clean during the plastering operation.

Devices for this general purpose are not new, however, those heretofore proposed were either too costly to make or use, or were inadequate to provide the combined closure and plaster ring functions in a satisfactory manner. For example, the closures or cover plates heretofore proposed were arranged for mounting on the outlet box by means of screws or clip devices that were difilcult to manipulate, and required too much of the operators time to be practical. Also such devices were made of metal and therefore of relatively expensive construction, which required their repeated use in order to be practical from the cost standpoint, and the labor cost of removing, handling and storing the devices was usually greater than the labor expected to be saved by keeping the outlet boxes clean of plaster.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a temporary outlet box closure and plaster ring which will be of such cheap construction and low manufacturing cost as will permit an economical, one-time use of the device; to provide such a device that will provide a complete closure for an electrical box opening, and at the same time provide a forwardly projecting plaster ring or wall which will furnish a mechanical limit to which the plaster may be applied without danger of overlapping the outlet box opening; to provide such a device that may be applied to an outlet box opening quickly and without the use of tools or separate securing devices; and to provide such a device which will include core-like members on the plaster ring wall adapted to cover the usual screw holes in the outlet box flanges, which are utilized for mounting the electrical fixtures, and to protect such screw holes from being clogged or covered by plaster.

Other objects are to provide such a device which may be made from such cheap materials,

as paper, paper board, papier-mach or plastic,

only once and is then destroyed or thrown away, 55

the total cost will be considerably less than the labor cost of cleaning or clearing the outlet boxes of plaster after the plastering job has been completed.

Several specific embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical out let box having one form of the improved closure and plaster ring applied.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the plaster ring itself showing the nature of its construction.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a die cut blank from which the plaster ring of Figs. 1 and 2 is formed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner in which the plaster ring of Figs. 1 and 2 is held in the outlet box opening.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a modified form of the closure and plaster ring, wherein the plaster ring has a square shoulder for engaging the outer margin of the outlet box opening.

' Fig. 6 is a plan view of a die cut blank from which the square shoulder form of plaster rin may be constructed.

Fig. '7 is a perspective View of the square shoulder form of plaster ring as it is arranged for insertion in an outlet box opening.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view as taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 7 showing the application of a non-drying adhesive material on the square shoulder of the plaster ring, whereby the ring may be yieldably secured in the outlet box opening.

Fig. 9 is a partially sectioned top view showing a molded or pre-formed closure and plaster ring embodying my invention.

Fig. 10 is a similar view of the same but showing another arrangement for mounting the device in an outlet box opening.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9 illustrating a cut-out finger arrangement for securing a molded or pro-formed plaster ring in an outlet box opening.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a device similar to that shown in Fig. 11 but with the closure partition formed as an integral part of the plaster ring, and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view showing still another arrangement for yieldably mounting a preformed plaster ring in the outlet box opening.

' Generally, the invention provides a closure which is adaptable to completely cover the outlet box opening whether that opening consists of the full area of the outlet box, between its side walls, or is merely an opening of smaller size formed in a permanently mounted cover plate such as the adaptor plates used with the usual 1900 outlet boxes. The particular features of the invention are the provision, by the closure itself, of an outwardly projecting peripherally extending wall or ring to serve as a limit stop for the plaster that is applied to the wall in which the outlet box is mounted; the provision of integral means on the plaster ring for protectively covering the fixture mounting screw holes in the outlet box and assuring a clear passage thereto through any surrounding plaster; and the provision of simple means for rapidly mounting orsecuring the plaster ring and closure in the outlet box opening, whereby the device will be securely held and yet easily and quickly removable when its purpose has been accomplished;

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the improved temporary closure and plaster ring is made from sheet material, die out to provide a blank I, which may be folded to producethe ring iormshown in Fig. 2; and as showniin Fig.2, the folded form is so arranged as to provide the peripheral shape of. the outlet box opening in which itis to beused. The ring form is arranged to provide a peripheral V'-shaped channel adapted to fitthe edge of the opening in the iixture mounting plate 3 of the outlet box s; and the side walls and 6 of the ring project axially from the edges of the channel 2. Thus the area oi the openingat the ends of the ring is somewhat larger than the opening in the fixture mounting; plate 3, and when the device is fitted into the plate 3, the ringwall 5 extends inwardly into theoutlet box it, and the ring wall 5 projects outwardly from the outlet box opening normal to the plane thereof.

shown, the outer ,7 wall ll of thering is formed to provide laterally projecting core members 'I' which are disposed and. adapted to align with and cover the screw holes am the plates by means of which the electricalfixture to be disposed within the outlet box t is mounted. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the core members extend transversely across the wall t of .the plaster. ring, normal to the plane of the outlet to opening, so that when plaster is applied to the wall in which the outlet box is mounted the plaster will be prevented from. covering the screwholes ii, orblocking access thereto, even though the plaster, when brought up to the plaster ring", is of considerable thickness. This'forznof plaster ring is folded up from the die cut blank shown in Fig.3, which ,is suitably scored or creased-asatll to assurethebends being macieat proper locations to fit the shape of the outlet boi: opening, and one end of.:the blank 5 is double creased or scored, as at iii, to provide tongues H which will overlap the opposite end of the'blankwhen the same is folded and thereby provide a shoulder against which the ends i2 of thejblan'kl may abut to prevent the ring inadvertently collapsing after it has been inserted in the. outlet box opening.

As' shown in i g. 3, the channel 2 which extends around the periphery of the .iolcled ring is provided by longitudinal score lines 13 and by cut out openings l4,=:of generally diamond shape, at each place where the score lines i3 cross the transverse score lines 8, the openings is permitting the side walls of the channel to be bent inwardly relative to the ring walls 5 and E and bent at the corners ofthe ring. Also, as shown in Fig. 3, the portion of the, blank forming the walls 5 is cut away, as at [5, and the opposite portion of the wall 5 is creased or scored, as at it, to permit the core portion 'a' being folded and formed to project laterally from the side walls 5.

as the blank is folded up by being bent on the respective score line 9, it, i and it, the plaster ring will assume the shape shown in Fig. 2, and this form can then be collapsed by sliding the ends H and i2 past each other so that the ring can be inserted into the opening in the outlet box cover plate 3. l'he ring is then expanded to seat the edges of the cover plate opening in the ring channel 2 and the ends of the tongues 12 are seated against the shoulder formed by the offset tongues H. i This engagement of the tongues i l and 52 holds the ring in position in the outlet box opening while the final closure is made inserting a partition member I! having the nape of the outlet box opening, but being of an area substantially the same as the area bounded by the ring walls 1%, the partition ii being formed to fit into the open end oi'thering so that when it seated against the outer side Walls of channel the partition will completely close the outlet box opening and will at the same time hold the ring in its expanded position with the margins of he cover plate opening seated u h-cyan the periph eral channel 2. The ll-shaped form of the channel holds theplaster ring securely in place in the cover plate opening and the partition ll ives such support to the plaster ring walls that even though the device may be knocked or hit by the plasterers trowel, it will not ordinarily be dislodged from its position. g p

, When this device has servedts purpose, it may be removed bysimply grasping the projecting wall 6 and tearihgthe device away from the outlet box. Preferably this form of outlet box closureaiidplastr ring is made from flexible sheet materials such aspaper or cardboard so that when it istorn out of the outlet box opening, it can be immediately discarded.

It will now he been that with the use of this improved outletboxc'losureand plaster ring, the outlet boxopening. is positively sealed against the entrance of any dirt or plaster until the plastering operation is completed; and that the outwardly projecting walls of the device provide a finish line for the plaster sothat when the device is removed the plastermargins around the outlet box opening will be neat and even.

.The modification of this former outlet box closure and plaster ring shown in Fig. 7 is similar to that shownin Fig. .2 except. that instead of the peripheral groove, the device is formed to provide a square shoulder l8 which extends inwardly from the inner end of the outerplaster ring wall 61. The inner plaster ring wall 5.! extends from the inner edge of the shoulder l8. Thus the inner wall of the plaster ring will fit into the opening in the outlet boxcovert, and it will not be necessary to collapse the plaster ring in order to mount it. In this form. of the device, the closure of the opening through the plaster ring is effected by .rneans of .a partition Win the same manner as with the form of the device shown in Figs. 1, and 2,. the partition seating against the flange which provides the shoulder it.

The die cut blank fiomwhich theplaster ring of Fig. 7 is formed is shown in Fig. 6, and it will be seen that the blank. is transversely scored at appropriate places to providethe lines on which the blank is to be bent to form the ring as in the case of the blank of Fig. 3. Also the blank is 75 longitudinally scored from end to end, midway between its side edges, to provide for bending the blank to form the flanges or shoulders H3.

In this form of the blank, the cut out portions l5.l, in the part forming the inner wall iii, are made in order to permit the formation of the core members Ll. Also, the inner wall part of the blank is cut away opposite each of the bend lines, as at l9, and the center line portion of the blank which forms the flange or shoulder I8, is mitered at the endof each score line, as at 20, so that when the blank is folded toring shape, the inner wall portion 5.l will be of lesser circumference than the outer portion 6.l. This will be readily understood since the inner wall portion of the plaster ring extends from the inner edge of the flange or shoulder I8, whereas the outer wall portion 6.l extends from the outer edge of the flange or shoulder I8.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 8, the outer or rearwardly facing surface of the shoulder l8, is preferably coated with a suitable non-drying adhesive material 2 l, adapted to yieldably engage the margins of the opening in which the plaster ring is mounted so that the plaster ring will be held securely in place in the outlet box opening when in use. This adhesive 2| is of the type which will provide a firm grip between the adjoining surfaces of the plaster ring and the margin of the outlet box opening, and yet be sufficiently yieldable so that when the plaster ring has served its purpose it can be readily stripped away from the outlet box and removed.

The two forms of the invention which have been so far described are particularly economical because they can be formed completely from die cut blanks of sheet material which can be stamped out in large quantities and shipped flat so that storage and handling is but a simple matter. Also, because of the form of the blanks, the complete plaster ring and outlet box closure, including the screw hole protecting core members and the means for yieldably mounting the device in the outlet box opening, can be quickly and easily formed and installed in the outlet boxes by the electrician or his helper, thus making theiruse a simple matter, which in practice can be done at a negligible cost and result in a considerable saving of labor time that would otherwise be required to clean the boxes after the plaster- 'ing operation.

The forms of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive are of a type in which the temporary closure devices are pre-formed or molded from some suitable cheap material and are ready for immediate application as they come to the job.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 9, the improved device is a pan-like construction having a closed bottom 22, and outwardly projecting side and end walls 23 and 24, the bottom or partition member 22 being of a size to cover the outlet box opening. The device shown is made to fit the open face of a typical Gem-B outlet box H. The core members 25 are disposed on the end walls 24 in alignment with the usual not have a separate cover plate or mounting gaged against the inner margin thereof.

flange, as in the case of the 1900 outlet box, the

temporary closure device shown in Fig. 9 is provided with a transversely extending spring holding member 26, mounted on the inner or rearward side of the partition wall 22, and having rearwardly curved resilient end portions 21 which are adapted to resiliently or yieldably bear against the inner surfaces of the side walls of the outlet box. In this case the temporary closure is applied by merely pressing it against the open end of the outlet box and forcing the resilient spring arm 27 into the outlet box so that they will, through laterally directed pressure grip the walls of the outlet box and hold the closure in place.

A modification of this form of closure, adapted for mounting over the opening of an outlet box closure .plate, is shown in Fig. 10, in which the mounting means comprises a transversely extending member 28 having resilient laterally extending arms 29, adapted to span the short dimension of the outlet box opening and be en- In this case the arms 29 have rearwardly bowed ends and. the mounting member is carried on a stud 30. which extends through the partition wall 22 and has a squared shank on which the mounting means is fastened by staking or riveting over the end of the stud 30. The head of the stud is slotted to receive a screw driver or other turning means, and the closure is applied through the cover plate 3 with the mounting spring extending in the long direction of the opening,

the closure being secured by turning the stud 33 through so as to swing the resilient arms 29 into engagement with the margins of the cover plate opening.

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate another method for mounting the closure device in the opening of an outlet box cover plate 3. In each case the temporary closure device is a preformed ring or shell in which the outer walls 3| terminate rearwardly in a square shoulder 32, from the inner edge which the rearwardly extending walls 33 extend. The shoulder 32 is arranged to bear against the outer margin of the opening through the cover plate 3 and the inner walls 33 are are adapted to project through the opening into the interior of the outlet box. In the form shown in Fig. 11, the partition 34 is a separate plate which is set into the closure ring and bears against the outwardly facing side of the shoulder 32; and in the form shown in Fig. 12, the partition 35 is formed as an integral part of the closure and constitutes an inner end wall thereof closing the opening through the inwardly projeeting walls 33.

In these forms of the combined temporary closure and plaster ring, the device may be molded or otherwise shaped from any suitable. material, and in each case the device is held in the closure plate 3 by yieldable, outwardly projecting fingers 36, which are .pressed or out from the side walls 33. The yieldable fingers 36 are forwardly projecting members having laterally extending free ends so that they may readily pass through the opening in the closure plate 3 as the closure is applied. The tongues then spring outwardly of their own resiliency,

amm

the temporary closureqdevlcenis removedbypull- .ingit; outwardiyaway from-the plate ,3.

In the formazshown .in. Fig. 13 the inwardly extendingwalls. of the temporary closure evice areprovided with a plurality (ii-peripherally space tips or catch members 3'?- whicnare molded on and. project from. the .-outer surface of the inner wall These: tips are shaped like ratchet teeth and are spaced rearwardly. from the shoulder-.32- socasto serve as tiny catch s for engagingthe inner marginrof the opening throughithe plate-3. Inlthis case thetipsare sprungthrough the.-cover plate 0- ening-byresilient yielding of the-inwardly extending walls t, and when the device is removed from the opening, after it. has served its.-purposc,--the tips: 3'5- arestripped or shearedofi frornrthe sidewalls. 33 astheclosure is-pulled away;

The main advantages of this invention,- reside inthe fact that the improved-temporary closure and-plaster ring may bemade of such cheap materials and with such little =manufacturing cost that it may be used once and then:thrown: away, the. cost of therdevices and-the labor of installing them being considerably less thanthe labor .cost of clearing out plaster andother dirt from the outlet boxes after the plastering operation has been'completed. Other advantages reside in the simple constructionand 1 arrangement whereby the temporary closure devices may be quickly and firmly mounted in the outlet.- box.openingwithout-.screwslor-other separate fastening means and yet have sufiicientsupport to prevent the devices from being dislodged. inadvertently upon being struck by the .plasterersltrowel; during the plastering operationrandlinthe arrangement of the outwardly projecting side walls of the device together with the coremembers for. protecting the fixture-mounting s crewholes .of the outlet box, so that, the plasterer is relieved of. any care with regard to wherethe. plaster may fall;th,e outwardly projecting walls of-the device providing a fixed and definite surface up to which the plaster may be spread, thereby saving considerable amount of the plasterer.s .ltiihe andiassuring a neat, clean.margin or. plaster line around the outlet box opening when tl'iej temporary closure is, removed.

Although several embodiments of this invention are herein shown anddscribedyit will be understood that, details of the constructions shown maybe alteredoriomitted' withou d p ing iromthe spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims;

1. As an articlejiof manufacture, a temporary closure for an electrical outlet box comprising a plate adapted to cover the outlet box opening and having continuous peripheral'side walls projecting. outwardly therefrom; core members projecting'laterallyfrom the outer surface of said side walls and positioned to align-with-the fixture screw holes in said outlet box,-and-'secur ing means on said closure-adapted to yieldably engage tl'ie margins of the. outlet box opening 2. As an article of manufacture, ate'mpor'ary closureiforan: electrical outlet :boxrcompris'ing-a plateadaptedto cover the ou-tl'etbox'opening and having continuous peripheral side .walls projecting; outwardly therefrom, core members projecting laterally from the outersurface'of said side walls and positioned to align with the fixture screw holes in'said outlet box; said core members extending across said side walls-normal .to the plane ofsaid:.plate,; and securing means on said closureadaptedetoryleldably;=engage the margins-- outlet. box opening 4. As,.an1 article of manufacture, a temporal"; closure for, .an. electrical outlet. box comprising a collar adapted to surround theloutletbox opening and project outwardly therefrom, .a partition extending betweenv the walls of. said collar. adapted.

to closerthe openingltherethrough, core members projecting laterallyjrom theioutersurface, of'said. cellarandpositioned to align, withwthe. fixture screwv holes in'saidoutlet box, saidccre-members being normal tothe-planeof said. partition, and securinggmeans on said-.closureadapted to enter the outlet box opening andlresilientlyengag'eopposite margins thereof 5; As anvarticle of-manufacturaa temporary closure-.foran electricall outlet boxcomprising a collar adapted to surround .the. outlet box opening and project outwardlwtherefrom, said collar having-j an-inwardly turnedperipherallfiange portion' at-itsv inner endto provide. a rearwardly fac- Ling shoulder adapted to engagethelouter. margin of the outletbox--opening and. an extension projecting rearwardlg from the inner edge of said fiangezand adapted toenter the outlet box'opening,i a; partition adapted to..close..the. opening throughsaid collar, and securing lmeans: onv said closure adaptedtocyieldal'ily. engagethe. margin of the outlet box-ropening 6.-As an article of manufacture, a temporary closure for an.- electrical. outletv box comprising. a

collar adaptedvto surround theoutletbox opening. and project outwardly therefrom,.said collar having an inwardly turnedperipheral-flange portion at its-inner end -toprov-idea rearvvardlyv facingg shoulderadapted toengage theouter margin of the outlet box opening and an extension pro jecting rearwardly .frointhe inner e'dg e'o'fsaid flange and adapted to. enter the outlet. box opening, a partition adaptedto close the opening through said collarcoremembers projecting laterallyfrom the'outer surface ofsaid collar. and

positioned to-alignw-iththe fixture'screw holes in said outlet box, said. core members being normal to. the plane of said partition; and securingmeans on said closure adaptedto" 'yieldably; engage the margin of; theoutletf bOXi opening;

2. As an: article o'i manufacture, temporary closure forgan electrical outletZ-boxcomprising;a cellar. adapted to surroundthe outletfooxopening and pro'j ect outwardly therefrom; said-.collar'haw ing-can' inwardly turned peripheral vflange portion at its inner end to provide I a crearwa-rdlyr i'aeing shoulder adaptedIto engage the outerfiiargin of the'outlet box opening an extension projectingre'arwardly fro'mitheinner edge of said-flange :and adapted to ententhe outlet 'boxtopening; a

outlet boxnsaidlcore 'membe-rsbeing normal-tothe plane of said partition, and securing means on said closure adapted to enter the outlet box opening and resiliently engage opposite margins thereof.

8. A temporary closure for an electrical outlet box comprising a continuous ring adapted to surround an outlet box opening and project outwardly therefrom, said ring being formed to provide a rearwardly facing shoulder intermediate its ends adapted to engage the margin of the outlet box opening and having a wall portion projecting rearwardly from said shoulder adapted to extend into said opening, a partition extending between the walls of said ring and closing the passage therethrough, and a plurality of core members projecting laterally from the outer walls of said ring and extending normal to the ends thereof, said core members being located to align with the fixture screw holes in the outlet box.

9. A temporary closure for an electrical outlet box comprising a continuous ring adapted to surround an outlet box opening and project outwardly therefrom, said ring being formed to provide a rearwardly facing shoulder intermediate its ends adapted to engage the margin of the outlet box opening and having a wall portion projecting rearwardly from said shoulder adapted to extend into said opening, a partition extending between the walls of said ring and closing the passage therethrough, a plurality of core mem' bers projecting laterally from the outer walls of said ring and extending normal to the ends there-- of, said core members being located to align with: the fixture screw holes in the outlet box, and. means on the rearward wall portion of said ring: adapted to resiliently engage the inner margin of the outlet box opening.

10. A temporary closure for an electrical outletbox comprising a continuous ring adapted to surround an outlet box opening and project outward- 1y therefrom, said ring being formed to provide a rearwardly facing shoulder intermediate its ends adapted to engage the margin of the outlet box opening and having a wall portion projecting rearwardly from said shoulder adapted to extend into said opening, a partition extending between the walls of said ring and closing the passage therethrough, a plurality of core members projecting laterally from the outer walls of said ring and extending normal to the ends thereof, said core members being located to align with the fixture screw holes in the outlet box, and yleldable laterally projected means on the rearward wall portion of the said ring adapted to engage the inner margin of the outlet box opening.

HARRY H. GEIST.

No references cited. 

